Helping Gillingham to promotion is the only thing on Connor Essam’s mind despite his own future at the club still being uncertain.

The 19-year-old defender only made his debut six weeks ago but has since then become an ever-present for the Gills.

He is one of 16 players out of contract when the season ends but won’t be letting that get in the way.

"I would love to stay here; it’s a good club and I have been here since I was 10," said Essam, after walking off with a clean sheet behind him at Priestfield on Saturday.

"I watched their games when I was little and thought ‘I want to play for that team’ but we will see what happens. Nothing has been sorted yet but I am not really concentrating on that.

"I am just enjoying playing for Gillingham, that’s all I am concentrating on. It doesn’t really affect me as to where I will be going, or where I am not going, about my contract or anything, that’s for other people to deal with. I am not bothered about that. I am just enjoying my football and I just want to keep playing."

Essam admitted he thought his hopes of extending his career at the Gills were over once he moved out on loan to non-league Dartford in December.

"I almost saw it as a stepping stone to somewhere else," he said. I hadn’t given up on Gillingham but I am 19 and you reach a point where you are not a youngster any more.

"I had been around (the first team) for 18 months without a sniff and you get to the point where you think, ‘have I got to move on to forward my career?’

"Luckily my chance came and hopefully I have proved a point to the gaffer, not just for me, but for the other youngsters in the squad because we have some very good youngsters. It is a hard step up but a lot of the youngsters we have got can manage it."